New role fits like a glove Aurilia bringing a glove (or six) for every infield occasion / Aurilia says he's 'past the transition phase' at first base

Published 4:00 am, Monday, March 26, 2007

2007-03-26 04:00:00 PDT Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Rich Aurilia is prepared for the 2007 season, and there is no better indication than the 12 gloves piled into his locker.

Twelve gloves?

Well, technically, three are mitts. First basemen use mitts. Other infielders use gloves.

In any event, he has nine of them in there, and Aurilia has plans for every last one. Some, he'll use in games. Some, he'll use during infield practice. Some, he's working in for future use.

"I'll have six on an everyday basis," Aurilia said, perhaps a relief to the clubhouse staff.

When previously seen in a Giants uniform, Aurilia was exclusively a shortstop. Then he took a three-year hiatus in Seattle, San Diego and Cincinnati and made his way around the horn, playing all four infield spots and learning about versatility and role-playing.

Now he's back, willing to play anywhere on the infield but focused on first base, the only available spot with third baseman Pedro Feliz, shortstop Omar Vizquel and second baseman Ray Durham returning from last season. Aurilia is expected to get the most time at first, with lefty Ryan Klesko also in the mix.

A Rawlings guy, Aurilia has 113/4-inch gloves for playing third and 111/4-inch gloves for second and short, but his black first baseman's mitts likely will get the most use. So far, infield coach Ron Wotus likes what he sees of Aurilia at first.

Photo: LIZ MANGELSDORF

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giants045_LM.jpg Rich Aurilia smiles as he talks with the umpire near the end of the game.
Event on {Aug. 22, 2003} in San Francisco.
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New role fits like a glove Aurilia bringing a glove (or six) for every infield occasion / Aurilia says he's 'past the transition phase' at first base

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"He had good hands and an accurate arm already," Wotus said. "It'll be the little nuances at the position that'll be a work in progress. Like, 'Do I have a play at second? At third? Do I go home or do I go for two?' From what I've seen, I think he'll be very good over there."

Aurilia, currently shelved with a strained right groin, hardly seems concerned.

"A lot of people don't realize, I played 50 games there with the Reds," said Aurilia, who last year started 47 games at first, 10 at second, 26 at short and 52 at third. "I'm not saying I'm a veteran first baseman. But I've played over there. I do feel comfortable. I'm past the transition stage now. Now, more or less, I'm trying to refine myself."

Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey said he thinks Aurilia will be fine defensively. Having seen him play first base for the Reds, McCovey said, "I was pleasantly surprised seeing him last year. That was the last place I thought I'd see him ... People say you can throw anybody over at first base. That is so wrong. Outfield is much easier to play than first base."

Unlike McCovey and J.T. Snow -- the former Gold Glove first baseman who worked with Aurilia early in camp -- Aurilia is right-handed, so he must spin to his right to throw to second, a play that's as awkward as a left-handed third baseman doing the same.

"That's probably the toughest play he's got to face," Vizquel said. "The rest of it will be easier. We're not worried about him catching the ball. We know he can do that."

As far as gloving long throws from across the diamond, Aurilia said, "Sometimes you're in trouble if the ball tails a little bit, but Pedro's ball is true and straight, and Omar is right on the money."

In a comparison more relative to Aurilia, Nomar Garciaparra now is considered a fairly good first baseman. But Aurilia is 35, presumably his best years behind him, and never was a superstar as the aforementioned ex-shortstops. Still, he has shown enough on defense that the bigger concern is whether he'll produce at the plate.

Last year, Aurilia had his best numbers since his career year of '01, when he batted in front of Barry Bonds and hit .324 with 37 homers and 97 RBIs. In 122 games in 2006, he hit .300 with 23 homers and 70 RBIs.

He was much more successful against lefties, hitting 71 points higher at .347, with 11 homers in 147 at-bats versus 12 homers in 293 at-bats against right-handers.

"He's an all-around player," said manager Bruce Bochy, who briefly had Aurilia in San Diego in 2004. "He can do a lot of things with the bat, including bunting and hitting-and-running. We have him at first, but he can play third, short or second. He'll move around a little bit."